Mall power! The faces of Anchorage malls evolve to meet the needs of Alaskan and visitor shoppers.

• Author: Komancheck, Wendy

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How will the two new retail malls, Glen Square and Tikahtnu Commons, which are coming to Anchorage, complement the established malls that have been in the city for the past 20 to 30 years? How will all of these malls stay in business? Spokespeople from Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall, the Dimond Center, and Tikahtnu Commons answer these questions.

'THERE'S ENOUGH BUSINESS' TO GO AROUND

Mary Fairbanks, spokeswoman for the Dimond Center, says, "There's enough business (for every mall in Anchorage). We're in no danger of going out of business. We plan to continue to be the community center for South Anchorage."

Sally Nordgaard of Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall is not intimidated either by the newer style malls going in nearby. She says, "Research tells us that Alaskans make more Internet purchases than shoppers at other Simon Property Group mails. They request national chains and restaurants not currently in Alaska. Again, it's a matter of bringing in the 'right' retailers that appeal to customers' lifestyles."

And, that seems to be the recurring theme behind all the malls interviewed. The new and old malls have done their homework. They've tuned into what Alaskans and outsiders want to see in Anchorage, and each mall is tailoring their retail outlets to attract their brand of customer.

Jim Jager, spokesman for CIRI's Tikahtnu Commons, which is bringing in the first Target store to Alaska, recognizes that the area is ripe for attracting new retailers to the area. "People no longer graze," he said. "The shopping style and lifestyle of customers have changed. People don't have the luxury to look around anymore; they want to get in and get out of stores."

Construction is set to begin on Tikahtnu Commons in the spring of 2008. And, the new mall will open its doors in the fall of 2008 or the winter of 2009. Jager says, "The project is expected to finish construction in 2010 and will create 1,200 to 1,500 new area jobs."

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All in all, Tikahtnu Commons will be built in northeast Anchorage, near the intersection of the Glenn Highway and Muldoon Road. Other than Target, specific retailers won't be announced until closer to opening day.

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"The site is expected to include up to 1 million square feet of retail, restaurant, service and entertainment businesses," Jager says. "The 173,000-square-foot Target store is scheduled to open on Oct. 12, 2008. Other businesses will include a national department...